Preserve OST file location in new installation?

[DoctorJellybean]

I use Office 365 (desktop), and currently my various *.ost files are located in F:\Libraries\Documents\Office\Outlook.

I'm planning on a fresh Windows reinstall, and reinstall applications as required. When it comes to Outlook, it will create new *.ost files in the default location.

Is there a way to specify the default location before adding accounts in Outlook? I understand that the existing *.ost files can't be re-used, so is there a way to preserve the emails in the current *.ost files? There are 3, and the respective file sizes are 191/413MB and 1.22GB. So a fair amount of emails.

Any suggestions will be welcomed.

Thanks.

 

[Diane Poremsky]

Export the profile from the registry - restore it then you can reuse the ost files.

If you want to make new ost file, you can set the default location using either a registry key or a junction point.
Moving an Exchange Offline Data File (*.ost)

 

[DoctorJellybean]

Thank you.

By registry profile, do you mean this:
Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook

And do I restore it before\after I've reinstalled Outlook?

 

[DoctorJellybean]

Or is it
Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook \Profiles

The ForceOSTPath string value is in Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook, so I'm not sure which one to export.

Thanks again.

 

[Diane Poremsky]

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook \Profiles

Definitely export this. Then either the ost key or just export the entire outlook (or office) path.

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook